Third Place Goes to Real So Cal in 2-3 Win Against CASL

NewsJul 17, 2010

CARSON, Calif. (July 17, 2010) – In the third place match of the U-17/18 division of 2010 Development Academy Finals Week, Real So Cal U-17/18 withstood a late CASL Chelsea FC Academy U-17/18 rally to win 3-2 in Carson, Calif.

The local club jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second half behind two goals from Samuel Ball and an Edwin Rivas strike. CASL, however, finally made a breakthrough in the 67th minute through Nader Jaibat. Jared Girard set up a tense closing five minutes when his grazing header found the back of the net from a long free kick in the 85th minute. CASL would hit the underside of the crossbar in stoppage time, almost tying the score in the last minute of the match, but the ball did not cross the goal line when it rebounded onto the ground allowing Real So Cal to hold on and take the third place medal.

"We played solid. I am proud the team's effort, the skills and the ability to perform under pressure," said Real So Cal head Coach Julio Castillo. "Today was about having fun."

The two teams found themselves pitted against each other in the third place match after dramatic finishes on the last day of group matches on Thursday, July 15. Real So Cal just missed out on the final due to goal difference after Vardar scored a stoppage time goal in their third match to edge the Californians by one goal. CASL also found themselves in second place of their group due to goal differential. With their hard-fought 3-2 victory against FC Dallas, they looked set for the championship match, but Crossfire Premier’s 90th minute goal in the 2-0 win against Derby County Wolves pushed them one goal clear of the Carolina-based club and into the final.

CASL opened the match with two chances in the first 10 minutes but Real So Cal midfielder Moises Orozco came the closest in the first half when his left-footed bender from 20 yards beat the ‘keeper but not the crossbar in the 17th minute. Rivas led a swift counterattack in the 42nd minute that was saved low to the goalkeeper’s right the only other significant action in an otherwise gridlocked first half.

The second half got off to a quick start when Ball capitalized on a mistake in the CASL defense and raced in on goal. His touch took him around the keeper at the top of the area and he calmly finished with his left foot to make it 1-0.

In a similar turn of events, Ball added the second just five minutes later. This time Edgar Ramirez was able to dispossess the CASL defense as they looked to play out of the back. He immediately looked up and found Ball in behind the defense. The striker took a touch and finished past the keeper to double the lead.

Real So Cal looked to seal the game when the scored their third goal in 10 minutes through Rivas in the 58th. Ramirez was again the provider, finding Rivas with a well-weighted diagonal through ball into the heart of the CASL defense. Rivas was able to one-time his finish past the goalkeeper at the far post, seemingly putting the result beyond reach.

The game changed complexion after both teams started making wholesale substitutions and CASL was able to cut the lead to two when Jaibat finished a nice passing move down the left flank. Midfielder John Rafferty worked himself free on the left and put in a low cross that Harrison Delbridge let run through his legs to a wide open Jaibat who knocked home his first of the week.

Still, the Real So Cal lead did not seem in danger until an innocuous foul just inside their half set up CASL’s second goal and nearly a dramatic third in stoppage time. Michael Forsyth drove the long free kick into the box when Girard came in unimpeded to challenge goalkeeper Benjamin Gold for the ball. The CASL midfield rose to nick the ball of the side of his head just before Gold was able to make contact cut the lead to just one goal.

As the match entered stoppage time, the stage was set for Glenn Scott’s near-heroics. CASL took a throw from the left which was head out to Scott who stood some 40 yards from goal. He took the ball off his chest and unleashed an ambitious, dipping drive that hit the crossbar and down to the ground. Agonizingly for CASL, the ball did not cross the line and Delbridge sprayed his follow-up effort over the goal in what would have been a fantastic equalizer for the team from North Carolina.